Disclaimer: A sample of Think Jerky was provided to me for this review. I appreciate their willingness to allow Bourbon & Banter to review the product with no strings attached. Thank you.

Some things just go together like peanut butter and jelly, beer with brats and bourbon and beef jerky. The latter of these amazing pairings that was on my mind when the folks at Think Jerky contacted me about their new Kickstarter campaign.

I’ve consumed a lot of beef jerky over the years–some good with the majority of it being pretty tasteless and dry. Think Jerky promised me that their product was going to be different than any other jerky on the market. To prove their point they sent me a few samples to try in the hope that I’d be impressed enough to write a review.

Before we chew through my thoughts let’s take a quick look at what Think Jerky is all about.

I’ll be honest. I thought the jerky was too high-brow for this bourbon swilling fella based on the details above since I don’t go out of my way to buy free-range proteins or eat low-calorie foods. But, the jerky flavors caught my attention. Anything with siriracha always gets my vote. Continue Reading →

Smooth Ambler is a beautiful enigma in the world of craft bourbon distilling, because they offer not only amazing palates in choosing and blending sourced bourbon but also the drive and ambition to craft whiskey from grain to glass in the heart of West Virginia. On a recent vacation we stumbled upon the SAS distillery simply because we happened to exit the highway on the same exit as the distillery, stuck around town until the tasting room opened, and went over for the visit. My visit to Smooth Ambler Spirits was the happiest accident I think I’ll ever experience, and here is why: Continue Reading →

Drink on the left is a homemade Manhattan while the drink on the right is Jefferson’s: The Manhattan Barrel Finished Cocktail.

Disclaimer: A sample of The Manhattan was provided by Jefferson’s for this review. I appreciate their willingness to allow Bourbon & Banter to review the product with no strings attached. Thank you.

When I’m in the mood for a bourbon cocktail a Manhattan is always my first choice. A classic drink with only four ingredients, it’s easily customized to fit your mood.

Want something extra spicy? Swap out bourbon with rye whiskey.

Have a sweet tooth? Put some extra sweet vermouth in with extra Luxardo cherries.

As such my home bar is always stocked with a Manhattan’s signature ingredients. But sometimes I find myself wanting to enjoy a Manhattan at a friend’s house with no ingredients in sight. It’s time like those that a ready-to-drink cocktail would be perfect. With that in mind I was curious to learn more about Jefferson’s The Manhattan when they announced it a few months ago.

Note: Dear Jefferson’s, please think twice about announcing a new product release on April 1st. Not exactly the best date to build credibility among media and PR folks.

Here’s the press release that Jefferson’s released announcing the release of The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail.

NEW YORK, April 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ — Esquire and Jefferson’s Bourbon today announced the launch of their first ever collaboration: The Manhattan: Barrel Finished Cocktail. Crafted with the editors of Esquire, this new pre-batched cocktail will be available at select retailers nationwide beginning April 1, 2015.Continue Reading →

Disclaimer: A sample of Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey was provided by Heaven Hill for this review. I appreciate their willingness to allow Bourbon & Banter to review the whiskey with no strings attached. Thank you.

Raise your hand if you like rye whiskey? Now raise your other hand if you love rye whiskey?

Good. Now that I’ve gotten your full attention, and those around you, let’s focus on the whiskey.

We’ve got the full product press release below for your reading pleasure but here are a few quick facts to note about Pikesville Straight Rye Whiskey:

The mash bill is reported 51% Rye | 39% Corn | 10% Malted Barley. That means this one barely qualifies as a rye whiskey from a technical perspective but don’t let that keep you from checking it out if you love rye whiskey.

For those keeping score at home, based on the mash bill Pikesville is basically HH’s Rittenhouse Rye BIB with two more years of aging and an additional 10 proof points.

Heaven Hill has been producing Pikesville Supreme Rye Whiskey for the Maryland market since they took over the brand in the 1980’s and brought production to Kentucky. This new release reportedly won’t affect the availability of Pikesville Supreme in the Maryland market.

Product will roll out to limited states this summer but will go national in the Fall at a suggested retail price of $49.99.

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